New Delhi: Microsoft has partnered with the Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (PIED) Society at BITS Pilani to establish an incubation cell aimed at fostering startups and supporting entrepreneurs to be future-ready. The collaboration between PIED Society and Microsoft includes an MoU signed to provide startups with the required skills and resources to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups at PIED Society.
As part of the initiative, PIED Society and Microsoft will provide startups exclusive access to Microsoft leadership, expert guidance, and Azure influencers to accelerate their growth. Additionally, startups will have access to Microsoft products and resources, including Azure community programs, ongoing developer campaigns, and curriculum that can be integrated into self-paced online learning paths for educators. Microsoft will also offer students with career resources, technology tools, and certifications to advance their skills.
The initiative will identify promising startups that will benefit from business and technical guidance and provide them access to free software tools, expert mentorship, and knowledge through the Microsoft Founder’s Hub Initiative. Selected startups will also receive $150,000 worth of Azure, GitHub, and M365 resources, training content, Azure support sessions, mentorship networks, and opportunities to network with MS Enterprise customers.
Startups will have the opportunity to visit the Microsoft Tech Centre in Bangalore, where they can demonstrate their technology to potential partners and investors. They will also be able to schedule in-person or online sessions with Microsoft experts to receive guidance on how to best leverage Microsoft products and services. The startups will also have access to Microsoft ISVs and a chance to get listed on Microsoft Marketplace.
The Head of PIED Society, BITS Pilani, Sachin Arya, welcomed the collaboration with Microsoft, stating that it will significantly boost their efforts to spur, support, and accelerate innovations from BITS Pilani. Students and alumni startups will not have to look further for comprehensive support for their technology stack and mentoring from experienced professionals.
Himani Agrawal, the Country Head of Azure, Microsoft India, expressed the company’s commitment to empowering startups and entrepreneurs through technology tools, platforms, and mentorship. He also stated that the partnership with BITS Pilani would enable startups to grow and take their solutions to the next level.
In conclusion, the collaboration between PIED Society and Microsoft is a significant development that will help foster startups, provide them with the required skills and resources to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, and accelerate their growth. It will also provide students with career resources, technology tools, and certifications to advance their skills, and enable startups to grow and take their solutions to the next level.
